Uma Musume: This Trainer Doesn't Do His Job, Ch 36-40

Chapter 36 - An Old Father’s… No, an Old Trainer’s Worries

The day’s training had ended, and the training grounds were no longer filled with daytime noise.

The training plan chart on the activity room’s whiteboard still hadn’t been erased.

It was already late.

Yuu lay flat on his back on the bed, his head resting not on a pillow, but on Tachyon’s firm, springy thighs.

I mean, come on, Tachyon was right here. Why would he need a pillow?

“Guinea Pig-kun.”

Her long fingers gently toyed with her beloved’s hair.

“Hm?”

“I’ve reviewed all our opponents’ data, prepared a large number of tactics, and even moved the track-adaptation training up by half a month.”

She chuckled softly, tapping his brow with her fingertip.

"So tell me, what are you still worried about?"

Yuu rolled over, pressing his face against Tachyon’s lower abdomen and then… snuggled up close.

"Of course I'm worried. Even if I've got everything under control, I'll still worry. That's normal, right? I care about you all way too much."

With his face buried against her, his voice came out muffled.

They’d analyzed their opponents down to the bone.

The strength gap was clear, the other side’s tactics were simple, and in simulated matchups, Urara’s win rate stayed above ninety percent.

In theory, tomorrow should be an unquestionable debut victory.

But theory was theory. Reality was reality.

He’d seen too many perfect plans on paper shatter on the track.

He'd watched Urara's efforts firsthand. Her progress was astonishing. From clumsy warm-ups to her current smooth stride, every run poured her heart into it.

Her weaknesses were real: awkward starts, weak power in close contests, and running form details that still hadn’t fully settled.

Any tiny deviation under the pressure of a real race could be magnified endlessly.

Technique wasn’t something that worked just because it looked good on paper.

It had to be forged into the body through race after race.

No matter how much you practiced, if you couldn’t use it on the track, it was useless.

So yeah. He was worried.

For rookie Uma Musume, there were limits to what you could discover on the training grounds. To truly find your shortcomings, you had to race.

“Ughhh, this is so annoying!”

“Hehe. Guinea Pig-kun like this is pretty interesting too.”

Tachyon gently stroked Yuu’s slightly long hair, her eyes full of affection.

She liked this.

“Well, whatever. I’ll trust her! I absolutely believe in Urara! She’ll definitely win!”

“Mm-hmm~”

Tachyon smiled as she looked at him.

Being with him was never boring.

“So, what’s going on with Hishi Amazon now?”

At that question, Yuu finally perked up a bit.

"Hishi Amazon? She's already fallen for my overwhelming talent! Everything's going smoothly. Won't be long before we get married… ughh."

Tachyon pinched his cheek with one hand, her smile turning dangerous.

"No matter how many girls like you, Guinea Pig-kun, or how many you end up getting involved with, I don't care. Even if you want to marry all of them, I'd support it. But the first one to marry you can only be me. Understood?"

Seeing that dangerous smile and the faint glow in her eyes, Yuu swallowed.

“Y-Yeah.”

“Good boy~”

She kept patting his head.

“?”

A question mark popped up over Yuu’s head.

Wait a second. How am I the one getting suppressed here?!

My temper won’t allow this!

With a forceful flip, he switched positions with Tachyon.

She looked up at Yuu above her and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He felt the sensation against his throat.

“We’re going to watch the race tomorrow. Are you sure you want to mess around tonight, Guinea Pig-kun?”

A crooked grin, the classic dragon-king smile.

“Are you underestimating me~?”

He bent down and lightly pecked her lips.

“I’ll mess around and still be full of energy for you tomorrow!”

“~”

Tachyon tightened her arms slightly and kissed her beloved back.

This childlike Trainer, she liked him too.

Loved him. Loved him. Loved him.

Feeling irritated?

Then let me be the one to put my Guinea Pig-kun at ease.

…

In Urara’s room, Urara excitedly pumped her small fists.

“Go, go, go!”

The Trainer had done everything he could.

She’d done everything she could too!

So now, all that was left was to wait for the race to begin!

“Tomorrow, I’ll show my absolute best!”

She turned toward her bed.

“Sleep!”

King Halo, who had been watching race footage, looked over at the fired-up Urara, who looked like she was about to go Super Saiyan.

“Tomorrow’s your Debut Race, right?”

After enrolling, Urara had moved into the dorms, and Miracle had as well.

When there were no breaks, living in the dorms was more convenient for daily training.

“That’s right. I’m definitely going to win tomorrow.”

Urara flashed King Halo a peace sign.

King Halo stood up.

“I’ve decided!”

“?”

With a smile, King Halo held out a hand.

“I’ll go watch your Debut Race too, Urara. You don’t have to be nervous!”

“King Halo-chan!”

Urara’s eyes lit up, and she immediately lunged forward to hug her.

“King Halo-chan is my second-favorite person!”

"Huh? Wait... second? Then who's first?"

King Halo barely had time to feel smug before realizing something was off.

I’m not first?!

“Of course it’s my Trainer!”

Hostility surged. Damn it, stealing my most important spot in Urara's heart. Unforgivable!

“By the way, who’s Urara’s Trainer anyway? You never told me before.”

“It’s Trainer Tsukimori! He’s super amazing!”

"Tsukimori… Tsukimori... don't tell me?! Yuu, the Tsukimori doctor?!"

King Halo’s eyes sparkled as she rushed up and grabbed Urara’s arms.

“That’s right.”

Urara nodded lightly.

The hostility vanished.

“That’s amazing! Please, you have to introduce us tomorrow! I admire Dr. Tsuki... Trainer Tsukimori so, so, so much!"

King Halo’s eyes were full of stars.

“Eh?”

Chapter 37 - Setting Off, Urara's Debut Race

She tied her headband and gave her shoes one last check.

Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her reflection.

That cute little face was completely serious now. “Urara is totally ready!”

Step by step, she walked toward the door and pushed open the dorm entrance.

The first thing Urara saw was Yuu, leaning against a tree not far from the dorm.

He straightened up and put his hands on his hips.

“Yo. Morning, Urara.”

“Good morning, Trainer!”

……

The car cruised along the road.

It was just a Debut Race, after all.

It had to be held nearby.

Because it was a dirt-track Debut Race, they had to go to a different venue. If it were turf, it probably could’ve been done right inside the academy.

No matter how much attention you drew, in the end it was still only a Debut Race.

The number of spectators likely wouldn’t even break three digits.

Urara wore a blissful smile. Everyone came to see her!

Hishi Amazon clapped a hand on her shoulder, grinning brightly.

"Urara, just let loose and run. I've seen what you can do! You'll be totally fine!"

“Mm-hm!”

Miracle smiled gently. “Urara, I believe in you.”

“Thanks, Miracle!”

In the passenger seat, Tachyon wore a feverish grin.

"Urara, how far will you go, I wonder~ Let me see it!"

“Urara won’t walk! Urara will run!”

Sitting beside her, King Halo swallowed nervously.

A… a first-rate Uma Musume wouldn’t get nervous over something like this!

“King Halo, my Urara’s been under your care lately. I really appreciate it.”

Yuu smiled as he spoke to the visibly tense girl.

"Ah, Trainer Tsukimori, you're too kind! We’re roommates, of course I should look after her!”

She panicked for a split second when he addressed her, but recovered almost immediately.

Placing a hand lightly over her chest, she struck a dignified, perfectly proper pose.

Tachyon glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.

She was actually pretty interested in King Halo. A bit of a wild-card racer.

In earlier tests, she’d often get irritated when blocked by others up front. And once she got annoyed, her performance tanked completely.

But there was that one time, when her survival instinct kicked in, she showed the kind of strength that could win even a G-grade Graded Stakes.

Interesting.

……

Urara chuckled.

“Trainer, I was actually kinda scared last night. I thought I’d be too excited to sleep.”

Yuu asked while driving, “So what happened?”

She scratched her head shyly. “Well… I fell asleep as soon as I got into bed. Slept suuuper well!”

“Pfft!”

He really couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

“Yeah, that sounds exactly like something our Urara would do.”

“Hehe~”

Urara turned her head, watching the scenery rush past the window.

It’s finally here. My race!

Finally… we can see the results of all the work Trainer and I put in!

The cherry-blossom glow in her eyes shimmered faintly. Tachyon caught it perfectly through the rearview mirror.

“Really… that’s wonderful.”

King Halo also turned to look at the roommate she lived with day in and day out.

She keenly sensed that Urara was a little different from before.

But she couldn’t quite put her finger on what had changed.

After all, if you’d never stepped into that world, it was hard to understand what had happened from such subtle signs, such faint shifts in presence.

But once you did step into it, whether it was the True Self State, the Passion State…

Or the final destination beyond them.

The Zone.

You could recognize it at a glance.

The corners of Yuu’s mouth lifted.

Let’s get started.

The first chapter of Urara’s legend.

(Gold Ship’s thoughtful reminder: This world’s technology is extremely advanced! Autonomous driving has reached a advance level, so chatting while “driving” is absolutely not a problem!)

……

The car doors opened, and Urara stared at the racetrack before her.

At some point, the smile had vanished from her face. She stepped forward, one step at a time.

Someone who wants to win doesn’t smile.

But the very next second...

Someone tugged on her collar. “Urara, where do you think you’re going? You need to check in first, then go change.”

She blinked, then broke into an embarrassed grin.

“Hehe, I forgot!”

Yuu rubbed her head. “Let me see it, then. Urara’s running.”

Urara grinned and flashed a peace sign.

"Then, Trainer, watch closely! Urara's running, just for you! I'll give you a real show!"

Hishi Amazon crossed her arms. “Nice, that’s some spirit!”

She loved confident juniors like this.

“I’m really looking forward to racing you someday!”

Her recovery training was already underway. Starting today, she’d officially begun training while recovering.

Honestly, she hadn’t expected it to happen this fast.

But Yuu’s view was simple: compared to rookie Uma Musume, her racing career wasn’t that long to begin with.

There was no time to waste.

“Urara’s a dirt-track Uma Musume, you know. You two… won’t really cross paths.”

Tachyon added that casually, without even looking at Hishi Amazon.

Hishi Amazon’s smile froze.

"I... I know that!"

Miracle looked at Urara with envy in her eyes.

How nice… getting to run a Debut Race so soon.

Which meant Trainer really was amazing!

With problems as big as Urara’s, he still managed to adjust everything so quickly and arrange her Debut Race.

I can trust Trainer completely!

From now on, I’ll keep following his training plans and daily routines strictly!

Do your best!

Miracle, an absolute Trainer fanatic.

She really, truly loved her Trainer.

……

Urara went off to change and warm up for the race.

Yuu led his Uma Musume to seats in the very front row.

Yes, right in the front row.

The venue wasn’t large, and there weren’t many spectators, so even sitting down they could easily see everything happening on the track.

A quick glance back showed that fewer than two hundred people were watching.

Dirt-track races were never as popular as turf races to begin with.

And on top of that, this was a rookie Debut Race.

Honestly, having this many people already shocked Yuu.

The Uma Musume preparing for their Debut Races began entering the track one by one.

He scanned the stands carefully, but didn’t see any of their Trainers.

"Tch… that's a bit much. Even if they're dirt-track Uma Musume, it's still a Debut Race. No matter what, they should be here with them."

Tachyon looked toward the track. “Guinea Pig-kun, don’t do anything weird, okay? This isn't America, after all..."

"Everyone, do your best! I'm watching you! After the race, dinner's on me! Urara, good luck! Give us a great race! Go!!"

Tachyon’s mouth twitched. “I knew it.”

She really had no idea just how much her Guinea Pig-kun loved Uma Musume.

All she knew was that he kept shattering her expectations over and over again.

The Uma Musume were stunned at first, but when they saw Yuu waving and cheering for them, their eyes lit up instantly.

“N-no way… that’s Doctor Tsukimori!”

“H-he’s cheering for us?”

“This is so touching!”

"We've gotta do our best. We can't let Doctor Tsukimori down!"

The timidity in many of them vanished, replaced by blazing fighting spirit.

The light in Urara’s eyes continued to grow brighter.

"Everyone, let's all do our best! I… won't lose either!"

Chapter 38 - A Rookie Touched the Zone? You’ve Gotta Be Kidding!

The afternoon sun had lost its midday bite. Everything was ready.

Less than two hundred people sat scattered across the stands, mostly local residents or familiar faces among Uma Musume fans.

Conversation rose and fell in a steady murmur, carrying the usual indifference reserved for rookie races.

Dirt-track events were never the center of attention, let alone a Debut Race.

But that calm atmosphere was completely shattered in the instant before the gates opened.

The flag dropped, and the metal gates snapped open!

……

In the front row of the stands, Yuu leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto the starting gates.

Beside him, Tachyon curled her lips into an amused smile. Miracle folded her hands neatly on her knees, her gaze focused and gentle. Hishi Amazon clenched her fists without realizing it.

King Halo swallowed nervously.

“Such a fast start!”

Not far behind them, an elderly spectator in a wide-brimmed hat let out a startled gasp.

A pink figure shot out low to the ground like an arrow skimming the surface.

It was Urara!

No hesitation. A flawless break!

Concentration, activated!

Chunks of wet dirt exploded backward under the force of her steps, scattering outward with fine droplets.

A textbook-perfect start!

The very first footprint she left in the dirt was deep and sharply defined.

“Oh! Beautiful! All the Uma Musume got out cleanly!”

The announcer’s slightly surprised voice echoed through the speakers. "No one missed the break. Looks like today’s rookies are well trained!

Currently leading is number five, ‘Gale Swift Hoof,’ followed closely by number three, ‘Gravel Dancer.’ The pack behind them is tightly grouped, with Morning Dash right there..."

The buzzing in the stands quieted noticeably. Many spectators who’d been half-interested lifted their heads.

Veteran race-watchers had sharp instincts. That explosive start carried a whiff of something unusual.

This rookie race might be far above expectations.

……

In the seconds before the gates opened, Urara felt as if someone had pressed a mute button on the world.

The announcer's calls, the crowd's noise, even her own quickened breathing and pounding heartbeat.

All of it faded into a blur.

Her Trainer’s voice rang with crystal clarity in her mind.

"Keep your rhythm, Urara. Feel the ground. Feel where your opponents are. Hold your pace. Right now… you're strong."

Her gaze fixed forward. Deep in her pupils, that cherry-blossom glow brightened ever so slightly under her focus.

The gates opened!

A perfect start!

She could clearly sense the muddy track beneath her feet.

Each time she landed, cold wet flecks clung to her calves and pink shorts, reminding her that this was a real race.

Her specialty was running from the middle-to-back of the pack.

Urara adjusted her breathing, drawing air deep into her lungs, then slowly letting it out.

Her steps were steady. Each stride used the strength in her calves and ankles to land precisely, then explode forward in an instant, minimizing the resistance of sinking too deep.

Sweat soaked her bangs, sliding down her cheeks, gathering at her chin before dripping onto the dirt-packed track and vanishing immediately.

But there was no fatigue on her face.

Only excitement!

Countless repetitions on the training grounds, memories of sweat-drenched clothes, had all turned into instinct etched deep into her muscles.

Save stamina. Wait for the moment.

That was the strategy her Trainer gave her, and she was executing it perfectly.

……

"We're entering the middle phase of the race! The lead group is slowing, fatigue from the dirt is setting in! 'Gale Swift Hoof' still leads, 'Gravel Dancer' is trying to find an opening on the outside! 'Super Little Piggy' is sticking close... Wait! Watch the back!"

The announcer's voice shot up in disbelief. "That's... number seven, Haru Urara! She's making her move! Unbelievable acceleration! For a rookie Uma Musume, this burst is outrageous!"

Urara, who had been tucked in the back of the pack, launched her attack.

Her position skyrocketed upward!

……

The stands instantly erupted.

“What?! She was just at the back!”

“So fast! How are her strides that long?!”

“That explosive power is insane!”

Yuu shot to his feet, both hands bracing against the railing in front of him.

The grin tugging at his lips was impossible to suppress.

There it is. Urara's acceleration!

Tachyon’s eyes gleamed with near-obsessive delight. Just as I thought.

Hishi Amazon pumped her fist wildly, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Go, Urara! That’s it!!”

King Halo was completely stunned, mouth slightly open.

She knew Urara’s ability, but… was this really Urara?

On the track, the pink figure unleashed a shocking top speed!

Urara no longer restrained her stride length or power. The muscles in her calves snapped tight.

Sprint. Full throttle!

Each footfall slammed into the mud with a heavy squelch, sending huge sprays of muck flying!

Dark brown clods fanned out behind her.

She leaned farther forward, pink hair whipping wildly in the wind generated by her speed.

She blew past one opponent after another, moving like an afterimage, the distance between her and the leading group shrinking at a visibly insane rate!

Accelerate. Again!

It felt as if some invisible shackle inside her had shattered completely.

Stored-up strength surged like a broken dam!

The monotonous repetitions of training, the moments of gritting her teeth through exhaustion, the countless strict corrections and demands from her Trainer.

All of it became fuel propelling her forward!

She could clearly hear her heart pounding, heavy and powerful, inside her chest.

Every breath burned hot.

Yet strangely, her fatigue didn’t worsen. Instead, it was replaced by an indescribable clarity and sense of control.

The muddy track was no longer an obstacle!

Her Trainer’s teachings flashed through her mind.

How to exert force. How to run. What posture to take.

How to run.

She felt the wind scream past her ears.

She felt the warmth of sunlight on her skin.

Racing is the best!

Trainer is the best!

The light in her eyes blazed brighter and brighter!

……

In the stands, sharp-eyed Tachyon was the first to notice something wrong. Her pupils shrank.

The air around Urara’s body seemed to warp ever so slightly.

The sound of her footsteps grew louder in her ears.

A paper-thin, almost imperceptible pale-pink aura flashed into existence, brief yet unmistakably real.

Like cherry blossoms blooming for the first time.

Tachyon’s breathing grew rapid. “Just a Debut Race, and you’ve already brushed against the door to the Zone… that’s really… amazing.”

Urara, you possess absolute talent that other Uma Musume don’t.

You believe in yourself. You believe in Guinea Pig-kun.

And you never waver.

You’ve already recognized who you are.

……

"Final turn! Entering the home stretch! 'Gale Swift Hoof' and 'Gravel Dancer' are running side by side! They're pushing hard... But… Haru Urara! Haru Urara is catching up! She passes them in an instant! My god! Is this really a rookie race? This is a Graded Stakes–level showdown!"

The announcer's voice was hoarse with excitement and disbelief. "Haru Urara is still accelerating! Her eyes are locked on the finish! The gap keeps widening! They can't catch her, the runners behind have no chance!! There's only one star in this race... Haru Urara! Charge through the line!!!"

Bang!

The announcer slammed the desk.

At the finish line, Urara panted heavily, sweat streaming down her cheeks.

She broke into a radiant smile and turned to see her Trainer, so excited he looked ready to rush the track.

She waved her arms at Yuu with all her strength.

Trainer! Urara won!

Chapter 39 - A Tiny Bit of Jealousy

“So good! So good! So good!”

Yuu went to town rubbing Urara’s head.

He was genuinely happy. He knew how strong Urara was, sure, but seeing her actually win… the excitement bubbling up inside him just couldn’t be contained.

Urara smiled blissfully, wrapping her arms around his waist and refusing to let go.

In the stands not far away, an Uma Musume stared in shock.

“You’ve gotta be kidding…”

Impossible. In her eyes, this was completely impossible.

Her very first race, and it was a Debut Race!

And she had already knocked on the door to the Zone?

Even she herself had needed race after race, constant reflection and struggle, just to finally open it.

And yet Urara, in a race so ordinary it could hardly be more ordinary, had already cracked the door open.

She’d glimpsed the world beyond.

If she raced a few more times, faced stronger Uma Musume again and again, opening the Zone was basically inevitable!

“As expected of Doctor Tsukimori. Even after becoming Trainer, he’s still so outstanding it’s impossible to look away.”

Her gaze lingered on the brilliant smile on Yuu’s face.

She could feel it: he was truly happy.

Being watched with such intensity, Yuu noticed it too.

He followed the direction of her gaze, and saw her standing high above.

The short cape on her shoulders fluttered in the wind.

"Symboli Rudolf? Why is she here?"

The next moment, his neck was suddenly hooked as Hishi Amazon casually slung an arm around him.

"Tore-kou, you're ridiculously amazing too! Let's go celebrate together later!"

“Huh? Yeah, sure. That was already promised anyway. But before that, we should get ready for the Winning Live.”

He shifted his attention back to the people around him.

The girls who’d competed in the Debut Race gathered around as well, cheeks flushed, looking every bit like starstruck fans.

"Doctor Tsukimori... no, Tsukimori Trainer! I’m your fan! I’ve liked you for a really long time!”

“Thank you, thank you. I’m honored.”

“Me too, me too! Um… c-can I shake your hand?”

“Of course. No problem.”

"Ahhh, I'm so happy! That's it, I'm never washing this hand again!"

“That’s going a bit far!”

“Tsukimori Trainer, can we take a photo together?”

“No problem.”

“Um, could you give me your autograph?”

“Totally fine!”

This Debut Race was starting to feel like a fan meet-and-greet.

Faced with his fans’ requests, Yuu turned none of them down.

Uma Musume really are the cutest~

After quickly wrapping things up, he returned to Urara’s side.

“Urara, do your best on the Winning Live too. Trainer is really looking forward to your performance!”

He looked at Urara’s smile and felt like… something was off?

Must be his imagination.

Yeah. Definitely his imagination.

“Trainer, you’re really popular.”

“Huh?”

Urara stepped closer, stopping right in front of him. They were very close now.

“Urara said, Trainer, you’re really popular.”

Yuu swallowed.

So it wasn’t his imagination.

For some reason, looking at Urara like this made the air around them feel heavy.

But… you think a little gravity is enough to make General Tsukimori retreat?!

He took a step back and made a big heart shape with his arms.

"I like them, sure, but what I feel for Urara is love~"

The atmosphere instantly returned to normal.

Urara’s expression hadn’t changed, yet everything felt completely different.

She copied his pose and made a big heart too.

“Urara loves Trainer too~”

"Urara, that's great! Come here! Hug time!"

Yuu laughed and spread his arms. Who do you think I am?!

Why would you think I wouldn’t go on the offensive?!

Urara beamed and threw herself straight into his arms.

"Hehe, Urara's soft and cuddly. This is the best!"

“Trainer’s lying. Urara’s all sweaty right now. I don’t smell nice at all.”

"I don't care, I don't believe you. You're lying! My Urara smells great!"

Rub rub rub~

“Haha, hahaha! Trainer, stop it!”

Urara laughed happily, and that strange little feeling in her heart completely vanished.

She couldn’t really explain it herself.

Seeing Yuu surrounded by other girls had just made her feel a tiny bit unhappy.

She swore, it was really only a tiny bit!

She knew Trainer had his own life, and he was kind of a flirt too.

But still… today was her Debut Race. She wanted him to look at her a little more.

Hehe~

Trainer’s eyes were always on her.

And from now on, he’d keep watching Urara, smiling!

She liked Trainer the most. The most, the most, the most!

……

“Huh?”

Hishi Amazon felt like her brain had stopped working. Th-this was a joke, right?

She stared blankly at the clearly not-just-Trainer-and-Umamusume interaction between Yuu and Urara, then turned to Tachyon, who was smiling as she watched them.

"Hey, Tachyon, are you really just going to stand there?! Your husband's getting stolen!"

Wasn’t Yuu Tachyon’s boyfriend?!

Then what was Urara supposed to be?!

She’d thought Yuu was just talking big before, but now… he’d actually gone and done it!

"I'll help you! Scumbag! I don't care about winning races anymore! I won't let this guy bully you! You're my friend!"

With that, Hishi Amazon charged forward in a fury.

But the next second, her collar was yanked tight.

“You think I don’t know?”

“Huh?”

Her brain short-circuited again.

"What do you mean? Tachyon, you mean… you know?"

“Mm-hm.”

Tachyon’s ears twitched as she lightly bit her thumbnail.

Even when their relationship was still ordinary, it had already pushed Urara this far.

So what would happen with love and expectation added in?

With a heart that longed to make her beloved happy?

“Hehe Hehehe”

Urara… just how far will you go?

I'm super, super... super... excited to see it.

Miracle walked over to Hishi Amazon and quietly explained the situation between them and Yuu.

Hishi Amazon’s face turned bright red almost instantly.

"Y-you… y-you mean you knew Tachyon couldn't handle it alone? D-don't tell me…"

“No, no!”

Miracle waved her hands frantically.

“My body’s not in good shape. Even if I wanted to, Trainer wouldn’t agree.”

She looked toward Yuu too, a happy smile blooming on her face.

"Trainer really likes us, not our bodies."

Hishi Amazon slapped her own cheeks.

This is too much.

This is way too much.

This relationship is way too messy. Other than training, she’d better keep her distance!

Falling for Yuu?

Don’t be ridiculous. Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

Chapter 40 - Symboli Rudolf

Yuu watched the energetic Urara on stage.

That’s nice.

He hoped that, in the future, Urara would stay just as happy as she was now.

“Tachyon.”

“What is it, Guinea Pig-kun?”

“I just saw Symboli Rudolf.”

Tachyon froze for a moment, then turned to look at him.

"The Emperor? Why would she be here?"

Yuu shook his head. "No idea. Maybe there's an Uma Musume in the race she has her eye on?"

Tachyon thought it over for a couple of seconds, then nodded lightly.

“That’s probably it.”

Yuu turned his gaze back to Urara. "Hehe. My Urara is way too cute. I wanna snuggle up to her~"

Hishi Amazon silently shifted a step to the side.

This Tore-kou didn't even bother pretending. Was he really that much of a creep?!

Still… the Emperor coming here, was it because she’d taken an interest in some promising newcomer?

Hishi Amazon fell into thought.

She couldn’t remember any of the racers being especially favored by the Emperor.

In the end, she didn’t figure it out.

She did know that Symboli Rudolf admired Yuu, but she never imagined it was to this extent.

Working hard to finish Student Council duties, deliberately carving out time just to see, with her own eyes, the very first rookie Uma Musume personally trained by her idol.

……

“Well?”

Tazuna looked at Symboli Rudolf.

Symboli Rudolf settled back into the Student Council president’s chair. “It was a pleasant surprise.”

“A pleasant surprise? I thought you might be disappointed.”

Tazuna smiled as she spoke.

Rudolf showed a puzzled expression at those words.

"Hayakawa-san, aren't your standards a bit too high? That child is just a rookie Uma Musume, and her talent is quite poor. For her to reach this level, isn't surprise the natural reaction? No… it should be admiration. With talent like that, to perform so brilliantly in this race; admiration is the more appropriate word."

This time, Tazuna was the one who froze.

Her impression of Urara was still stuck almost two months in the past.

Back then, Urara had only just joined Phoenix.

She’d been so busy lately that she hadn’t been paying much attention to Phoenix anymore, let alone Urara.

Just how busy?

In two months, the chairwoman, Yayoi, had only visited Phoenix three times.

“Urara… won?”

Symboli Rudolf nodded gently.

"Yes. Not only that, the race footage should already be uploaded. I was planning to watch it again. Would you like to join me, Hayakawa-san?"

Tazuna didn’t hesitate long before nodding.

“Yes. I’ll trouble you, Emperor.”

……

The glow of the screen flickered across the faces of the two Uma Musume.

Tazuna’s expression turned to shock.

Even though she hadn’t activated Zone herself, she’d worked in the Uma Musume field for many years. She’d faced Zone users more than once, and even defeated Uma Musume who had entered Zone.

There was no way she wouldn’t recognize it.

“This is… Zone?”

Symboli Rudolf nodded.

“That’s right. I’ve been paying close attention to Phoenix lately. I knew Urara was hardworking and earnest.”

Resting her arm on the table, the Emperor wore a thoughtful expression.

"But I truly didn't expect her to reach this level. If she keeps moving forward at this pace and doesn't stray from the path, her future is bright."

“It really is astonishing. I’ve been busy with exchange matters with overseas Uma Musume academies lately. I completely missed this.”

Tazuna looked at the video, where Yuu was hugging Urara tightly.

“Trainer Tsukimori… is truly amazing.”

Symboli Rudolf smiled at the screen. "There may be trainers more skilled than Trainer Tsukimori. But in my heart, Trainer Tsukimori is the greatest trainer. No exceptions."

Only then did Tazuna sense that something was slightly off.

Symboli Rudolf's enthusiasm toward Yuu felt… unusually intense.

It was rare to see her speak with such absolute certainty about any trainer.

“Emperor… do you admire Trainer Tsukimori that much?”

Symboli Rudolf didn’t hide it. She nodded naturally.

"Obviously. Whether as Trainer Tsukimori or Doctor Tsukimori, he's someone worthy of admiration. Hayakawa-san, you're well aware of Trainer Tsukimori's attitude toward Uma Musume."

As she spoke, Rudolf straightened her posture and looked at Tazuna.

Tazuna nodded.

Yuu loved Uma Musume unconditionally, truly and wholeheartedly.

He was unserious, even unreliable at times.

Even so, there were two things no one had ever doubted.

One was his medical skill.

The other was his love for Uma Musume.

“I know. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised at all when he left medicine and became a Trainer.”

Symboli Rudolf turned her head, her gaze soft as she watched Yuu pressing his cheek against Urara’s on the screen.

"Yes… it's not surprising at all. After all, it lets him stay with Uma Musume day and night. After treating that severely injured Uma Musume, Trainer Tsukimori once said that the time he spent with them was far too short. That was when I started wondering whether Doctor Tsukimori would become Trainer Tsukimori. After all, only a Trainer can truly spend every day with Uma Musume… and have Uma Musume of their own."

Tazuna nodded.

“Yes. That reasoning makes sense.”

She fell silent for a couple of seconds after saying that.

Then she looked at Symboli Rudolf. “In that case, I’ll excuse myself. I think I’ve just found a very suitable candidate to handle the reception of foreign trainers and Uma Musume.”

“Understood. I still have plenty of work here, so I won’t see you off, Hayakawa-san.”

Symboli Rudolf watched as Tazuna disappeared from view.

She leaned back into the soft chair.

“Trainer Tsukimori…”